Exodus 36:21 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Exodus 36:21 kjv

The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.

Exodus 36:21 nkjv

The length of each board was ten cubits, and the width of each board a cubit and a half.

Exodus 36:21 niv

Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,

Exodus 36:21 esv

Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.

Exodus 36:21 nlt

Each frame was 15 feet high and 27 inches wide,

Exodus 36 21 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Exod 26:17	Each board shall have two tenons for fitting them together...	Original divine instruction for the tenons' design.
Exod 36:1	Bezalel and Oholiab... carried out all the work... as the LORD had commanded.	Fulfillment of God's commands in the Tabernacle's construction.
Exod 39:32	Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished; and the sons of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses...	The comprehensive completion in faithful obedience to God's will.
Num 9:18	At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped.	The Tabernacle's mobility and God's guiding presence.
John 1:14	And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory...	Jesus as the ultimate "Tabernacle" of God's presence.
Heb 8:2	a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.	Christ's heavenly ministry, superior to the earthly Tabernacle.
Heb 9:11	But when Christ appeared as a high priest... through the greater and more perfect tent...	Christ's perfect and ultimate Tabernacle in heaven.
Heb 9:24	For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands... but into heaven itself...	Christ's entry into the true sanctuary, fulfilling Tabernacle's purpose.
1 Cor 3:9	For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.	Believers depicted as God's spiritual structure.
1 Cor 3:16	Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?	The church as God's spiritual temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Eph 2:19-22	built on the foundation... In him the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple...	The church's unity and growth as a spiritual dwelling for God.
1 Pet 2:4-5	...coming to him as to a living stone... being built up as a spiritual house...	Believers as "living stones" forming a spiritual temple.
Zech 6:12-13	Behold, the man whose name is the Branch... build the temple of the LORD;...	Prophecy of the Messiah (Christ) building a spiritual temple.
Matt 16:18	And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church...	Christ's foundational building of His church, emphasizing strength.
Col 2:19	...and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together...	The body of Christ, intricately connected and dependent.
Psa 133:1	Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!	Illustrates the ideal unity symbolized by precise fit.
Rom 15:5-6	May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another...	Encouragement for unity and agreement among believers.
Isa 54:2	Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;...	God's command for growth and expansion, requiring stable foundations.
Rev 21:3	Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them...	The final and eternal fulfillment of God's dwelling with His people.
Exod 31:3	I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship,	Divine enablement of craftsmanship for sacred construction.

Exodus 36 verses

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Exodus 36 21 Meaning

Exodus 36:21 precisely details the structural elements of the Tabernacle's walls, explaining that each gold-overlaid acacia wood board was fashioned with two projecting tenons. These tenons were crafted to interlock perfectly, ensuring a robust and stable union for the entire sacred structure. The verse emphasizes the meticulous and uniform application of God's exact architectural specifications, highlighting the harmony and integrity required for the divine dwelling place.

Exodus 36 21 Context

Exodus 36:21 appears within the narrative describing the active construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, following God's detailed blueprints provided to Moses in earlier chapters (Exod 25-31). This verse specifically focuses on the preparation and fitting of the upright acacia wood boards that formed the portable sanctuary's walls. The larger context of Exodus 35-40 portrays the fulfillment of God's commands, demonstrating the Israelites' obedience and the divine endowment of wisdom and skill to craftsmen like Bezalel and Oholiab. Historically, the Tabernacle was not merely a building; it was the sacred dwelling where God's glorious presence (the Shekinah) would reside among His covenant people, Israel, as they journeyed through the desert. Its meticulous design underscored the holiness of God and the reverence required in approaching Him, emphasizing His precise standards and orderly nature.

Exodus 36 21 Word analysis

Each board (וְקֶרֶשׁ wə·qe·reš): The Hebrew qeresh refers to a plank or board, specifically made of strong acacia wood (שִׁטִּים, shittim). This signifies that every individual component was essential and designed with purpose.
had two tenons (שְׁתֵּי יָדוֹת šə·tê yā·ḏō·wṯ): Yadot (ידות) are projecting pegs or supports, derived from yad (יד) meaning "hand." Having two tenons on each board ensured precise alignment and double-locked stability for a movable structure, critical for both strength and ease of assembly/disassembly.
connected to each other (מְשֻׁלָּבֹת אִשָּׁה אֶל-אֲחֹתָהּ mə·šul·lā·ḇōṯ ’iš·šāh ’el-’ă·ḥō·ṯāh): This unique Hebrew idiom literally translates to "interlaced, woman to her sister." It poetically and powerfully conveys perfect alignment, intimate fitting, and seamless interlocking. It means they were designed as precise counterparts, resulting in a cohesive and strong union.
he made all the boards (כֵּן עָשָׂה לְכֹל קַרְשֵׁי kên ‘ā·śāh lə·ḵōl qar·šê): The phrase ken asah means "thus he did" or "he made in this way." It indicates that the precise method of joining using two tenons was applied consistently to every single board. This repetition stresses uniformity, fidelity to the divine blueprint, and the thoroughness of the craftsmanship.
of the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּן ham·miš·kān): Mishkan (משכן) is "dwelling place" or "sanctuary." The emphasis here is on the ultimate purpose of these components: to form the sacred space where the God of Israel would manifest His presence among His people, reinforcing the immense significance of careful construction.

Exodus 36 21 Bonus section

The "two tenons" for each board provided a symmetrical and balanced attachment, crucial for supporting the weight of the gold overlay and creating a stable wall for the sacred structure, which had to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled. The meticulous effort involved in creating such precise and interlocking joinery speaks to the immense value God places on order, intentionality, and complete faithfulness in carrying out His will. The structural integrity of the physical Tabernacle implicitly conveyed the unwavering steadfastness and reliability of the God who dwelt within it.

Exodus 36 21 Commentary

Exodus 36:21, though focused on structural mechanics, conveys significant theological lessons. The meticulous detail about the two perfectly fitted tenons for each board underscores God's absolute demand for precision and adherence to His instructions when establishing His dwelling place. This level of exactness not only ensured the Tabernacle's physical stability and portability but also served as a profound object lesson on divine order, wisdom, and holiness. The idiom "connected to each other" beautifully illustrates perfect unity and interdependence—a reflection of God's own character and a foreshadowing of the harmonious, unified spiritual building He intends for His people, the church (Eph 2:21). The skilled execution of this design, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Exod 31:3), teaches that true spiritual work requires both divine guidance and human obedience, culminating in a robust and sacred space for God's manifest presence.